CLEVELAND, January 21 — Each year, the BLET National Division compiles a list of scholarship opportunities available to the children of BLET members. Numerous financial aid opportunities are published here in the 2014 BLET Scholarship Directory.

The scholarship opportunities vary widely. The following comprehensive list provides members and their families with contact information for each scholarship program. The BLET National Division does not maintain its own scholarship program, so interested parties are advised to contact the individual scholarship providers listed below for additional information.

Those aware of additional scholarship opportunities not included in this Directory are urged to contact the BLET Public Relations Department at: Bentley@ble-t.org.

The 2014 BLET Scholarship Directory is as follows:

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James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship

The James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund awards scholarships annually to outstanding high school seniors. The deadline for this year’s program is March 31, 2014.

Recipients are selected by an impartial committee of university admissions and financial aid directors based on academic achievement, SAT/ACT scores, character, potential and financial need. The Teamsters consider all applicants without regard to race, religion, gender, disability, or any other legally protected status.

One category of awards totals $10,000 each. These four-year scholarships are disbursed at the rate of $2,500 per year and are renewable annually. Other awards are one-time $1,000 grants. These scholarships are disbursed to the college or university at the beginning of the recipient’s freshman year.

Due to the highly competitive nature of the program and the large number of applicants, students should visit the Teamster website and carefully consider the criteria before submitting an application. The JRH Scholarship Fund has established some guidelines to be used by students when deciding whether or not to apply for this program. Applicants should: 1. Rank in the top 15 percent of their high school class; 2. Have, or expect to have, excellent SAT or ACT scores; and 3. Demonstrate financial need.

A full list of specific eligibility requirements can be found on the Teamster website.

BLET Auxiliary and International Western Convention (IWC) Scholarships

The BLET Auxiliary and the International Western Convention (IWC) offer $1,000 scholarships annually to help the children of BLET and Auxiliary members realize their goals in life.

For the second year in a row, the BLET Auxiliary has two additional $1,000 scholarships for the school year 2014-2015 to award to children of members of both the Auxiliary and BLET — the Leona A. Louis Memorial Scholarship and the John O. & Brenda Casteel Scholarship.

There are two very strict guidelines that must be met in order to be eligible for Auxiliary scholarships. Applicants must be a son or daughter of a BLET Auxiliary member and a Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen member (living or deceased), with each being a member for at least two years, and who has been accepted by an accredited school for admission. (Exception: Children of a single parent who has been a BLET member for at least two years and has maintained at least two years of membership as a BLET Auxiliary Associate Member are eligible to apply for a BLET Auxiliary scholarship).

In addition to its own scholarship program, the BLET Auxiliary administers the scholarship program for the International Western Convention (IWC). One thousand dollar scholarships are available for the children and grandchildren of BLET members whose division belongs to the IWC (International Western Convention). The BLET Divisions that are eligible to participate in the IWC are located in the following states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Auxiliary membership is not a requirement to apply for the IWC-only scholarships.

If the applicant is a graduate student or returning to school as a sophomore, junior, or senior, he or she must have a 3.0 grade point average or better to be considered. The applicant must also be accepted to an accredited school. Scholarship applications must be received by April 1, 2014, to be accepted. Late applications will not be considered. These requirements apply to both the BLET Auxiliary scholarships as well as the IWC-only scholarships.

Auxiliary application forms are available online at: www.bletauxiliary.net, or you can link to the Auxiliary website from the BLET Website under “Departments.” Please check the website for updated scholarship information and forms. In addition to the application, the Auxiliary website provides scholarship applicants with more detailed instructions on the application process.

Please remember that the applicant must have one parent who is a member of the BLET and one parent who is a member of the Auxiliary in order to apply for a BLET Auxiliary scholarship.

For details or clarification of eligibility call (770) 497-8898 or email Sister Lawana at lewp2007@bellsouth.net.

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Eastern Union Meeting Association (EUMA)

The Eastern Union Meeting Association awards several scholarships each year, ranging in value from $1,000 to $2,000, including memorial scholarships honoring the memories and accomplishments of Brothers Robert F. Donoghue, Robert W. Godwin and Robert T. Pentland. The scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence and financial need. Only children of BLET members (living or deceased) belonging to divisions participating in the EUMA are eligible to apply. Division must be square on the books for the child to qualify. States represented in EUMA are Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington D.C., and West Virginia.

Applicants must be the child of an active, retired or deceased BLET member whose division belongs to the Southwestern Convention Meeting. Applicants must be accepted for admission to an accredited college, university or institution of higher learning. Only divisions belonging to the SWCM are eligible.

SWCM application forms can be filled out on your computer screen with the interactive PDF form available on the BLET website. Deadline is August 1, 2014. The 2014 convention begins on September 7, and Divisions must have paid their annual SWCM convention dues for applicants from their Division to be eligible.

Beginning in 2014, the SWCM Scholarship Committee created two application forms — one for incoming freshmen and one for current college students. Be sure to use the correct form when applying as incorrect applications will not be accepted.

The Southeastern Meeting Association (SMA) Scholarship Committee awards Geiger-Brendle Scholarships each year to the children of active or retired BLET members whose divisions participate in the SMA.

Please check with your division Secretary-Treasurer to ensure that your division participates. In general, the SMA includes divisions located in states east of the Mississippi River, and south of the Ohio River and the Mason-Dixon Line. Also, Divisions must be current with their SMA dues in order for the applicant to be eligible. No fax or electronic copies of the application will be accepted.

SMA scholarship winners are usually selected and announced at the SMA’s annual business meeting held during the convention. This year’s SMA will be June 15-19 in Savannah, Ga. Please see your division officers for an application or for more details. Deadline this year is June 1, 2014.

The BLET’s CSLB will again be awarding a scholarship to a graduating high school senior who will attend college/ trade/ vocational school in 2014. The applicant’s parent or guardian must be a member in good standing in a BLET division represented by CSLB.

Last year, the Board awarded a $1,000 scholarship. Rules, applications and deadline information are available on the Board’s website: www.cslb.ws.

The BLET’s Illinois State Legislative Board is currently accepting applications for its Don Little Memorial Scholarship Fund, which was established in 2013.

One $1,000 and two $500 scholarships will be awarded to applicants whose parent or guardian is a BLET member in good standing with a BLET Local Division represented by the Illinois State Legislative Board. Applicants must be 26 years of age or younger.

Brother Don Little was a locomotive engineer with Metra commuter rail in Chicago and a proud member of BLET Division 294 (Bensenville, Ill.) for 35 years. Brother Little served for more than 10 years on the Executive Committee of the Illinois State Legislative Board and always had a dream of establishing a scholarship program for the family members of fellow Brothers and Sisters who worked in Illinois. Unfortunately, Brother Little passed away before his dream was realized.

In 2013, Paul Piekarski (Chairman of the Illinois State Legislative Board), Timothy Dunn (Secretary-Treasurer of the Board), and several others helped make Brother Little’s dream a reality.

“It is with great pleasure that we can announce that the Illinois State Legislative Board has established the first annual Don Little Memorial Scholarship Fund. Few people were more devoted to family, friends and public service than Don. Don’s legacy is one of a great union Brother, husband, father, friend and colleague. This scholarship not only honors his name but also represents what he had in his heart: an unsurpassed passion to help people who are trying to get ahead in life yet may not have the resources to accomplish their dream.”

Scholarship applications and all accompanying documents must be received by June 30, 2014. Specific eligibility requirements, detailed instructions and application forms (PDF) are available for download from the BLET National Division website.

For questions or assistance in completing the application, contact Brother Dunn at (618) 755-4929 or dunnsrun1@yahoo.com.

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BLET Division 269

BLET Division 269 (Jamaica, Long Island, N.Y.) offers two $500 scholarships to the children of BLET members who are already enrolled in college. Participation is limited to members of Division 269 only.

Winners are picked at random at the division’s Christmas party. For details, watch your Division 269 newsletter or contact Division President John A. Kavanaugh Jr. at (631) 813-2234.

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New for 2014! BLET Division 622

BLET Division 622 (Alliance, Neb.) will, for the first time, award two $500 scholarships in 2014. Only the children of Division 622 members are eligible to apply. Scholarship winners will be chosen at random during a Division meeting in August. Applications must be received by July 31, 2014. For more specifics, please visit the Division 622 website and click on “scholarships:” www.blet622.com. Application and instructions are also available from the National Division website.

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New for 2014! Wyoming State Legislative Board

The BLET’s Wyoming State Legislative Board (WYSLB) has announced a scholarship program for the upcoming school year. The deadline is June 1, 2014.

Wyoming State Legislative Board Chairman Cory Runion said the Board will award either two $1,000 scholarships, or, in the event of a single applicant, one $1,000 scholarship each year to an immediate family member of a BLET member in good standing and holding membership in a Division chartered within the state of Wyoming. The scholarships will be awarded based on the application along with the requested documentation chosen by the WYSLB scholarship committee.

Scholarship applications and all accompanying documents must be received by June 1 of each year. Specific eligibility requirements, detailed instructions and application forms (PDF) are available for download from the BLET National Division website, or can be requested from your Division Legislative Representative. Currently, the BLET has nine Division chartered in Wyoming — Division 31 (Bill); Division 207 (Casper); Divisions 44, 103 and 115 (Cheyenne); Division 94 (Gillette); Division 869 (Greybull); Division 142 (Rawlins); and Division 624 (Sheridan).

Thanks to the generosity and hard work of many people, including its Board of Directors, the Midwest Rail Craft Scholarship Foundation (MWRCSF) is able to help several children of railroaders each year with their educational expenses. Scholarships from the MWRCSF are available to children of railroaders from all crafts and union affiliations. Applicants must hold residence in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma, Texas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Illinois or Arkansas.

The Foundation, established in 2004, is led by a diverse Board of Directors representing several different railroads and labor unions. The Foundation’s mission “is to collectively use the generous resources of many to ensure the further education of those blessed with knowledge, but burdened with need. In addition, we strive to unite all railroads/railroad crafts throughout the Midwest in a valiant effort to give of their time and resources so the future of our children will be bright and productive.”

Greg Shy, President of MWRCSF and a retired member of BLET Division 777 (Argentine, Kan.) said MWRCSF awarded $8,000 in scholarships last year to students who are connected to the various railroad crafts throughout the Midwest.

“Our objective is to concentrate the scholarship applicants geographically in correspondence to the enormous support we have had from railroad workers in these states,” Shy said. “This is a great opportunity for those railroad families in need of financial support for the higher education of their children.”

The scholarships are funded through an annual golf tournament, contributions and sponsorships. This year’s golf tournament is slated for September 21-22, 2014.

Please use the scholarship application on the MWRCSF website. Fill it out electronically, print it, attach the proper signatures and mail it to the address provided. The deadline for receiving applications is June 15 every year. Awards are presented on a one-time basis; and winners must reapply if they wish to be considered more than once during their college career.

To download a copy of the application, and for other information about the MWRCSF, please visit: www.mwrcsf.org.

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BR&CF Scholarship Program

The Brotherhood’s Relief and Compensation Fund (BR&CF) is pleased to provide opportunities for the sons and daughters of BR&CF members to participate in the Luther G. Smith Scholarship Program.

Children, including adopted and step-children, of BR&CF members who are in “Good and Regular Standing,” are eligible. Applicants must be 27 years of age or younger. Applicants may be current high school students who have applied for admission as full-time students in accredited post-secondary schools or may be attending or enrolled as full-time students in accredited post-secondary schools.

International President J. M. Robb advises that 20 scholarships of $1,000 each are awarded every year.

The BR&CF’s 2014 scholarship program commenced on October 1, 2013, with applications due on March 3, 2014. The 2015 program begins October 1, 2014, with a deadline of March 2, 2015.

BR&CF members with questions may contact Linda Garber at (800) 233-7080. Members may obtain an application form by calling or writing to 2150 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg, PA 17110 or emailing brcf@brcf.org.

Rising education costs are making it difficult for many union families to afford the cost of tuition. That’s one reason Union Plus, which provides important consumer benefits to union members and retirees, offers a unique scholarship program that in just over two decades has awarded over $3.5 million in education funding to more than 2,300 union members, spouses and dependent children. Recipients are selected based on academic ability, social awareness, financial need and appreciation of labor.

In addition to the Union Plus Scholarships, the following benefit also helps union families afford higher education:

• Discounts of 15 to 60 percent on college and graduate school test preparation courses from The Princeton Review. Discounts are available for classroom, online and private tutoring for the SAT, ACT, GMAT, LSAT, GRE and MCAT as well as college affordability and admissions online courses. Visit UnionPlus.org/CollegePrep or call (888) 243-7737.